Читать книгу Incredible Hawaii - Terence Barrow - Страница 14

6 The little people of the night

THE FIRST INHABITANTS OF THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS ARE the Keiki-o-ka’aina (Children of the Land), little night creatures better known to Hawaii residents as Menehune.

They are said to have lived in Hawaii before the Hawaiian ancestors arrived, and are still about. Reports of them are made from time to time today. The Menehune are described as a squat and rather ugly pigmy race with many of the traits of European elves, pixies, fairies, gnomes and trolls. They are known in all Polynesian islands. The Manahune of the Society and Cook Islands are of the same little race. The island of Kauai is said to be their original Hawaiian home.

Menehune are said to dislike being seen by mortals, yet some make human friends and generally children seem inoffensive to them. They do mankind favours if well treated, making in past times stone temples, fishponds and watercourses. In fact, they seem to enjoy working. They are gregarious, noisy, talkative little fellows, often up to some mischief; yet they prefer to live in lonely valleys, in the mountains, in caves, hollow logs or primitive huts.

The Menehune are believed to be supernatural creatures who have a distinct dislike of daylight. Where they came from and how many still live is quite unknown.